The world's forgotten point

Strūnos socialinės globos namai.
Winter 2024

Švenčionys, Lithuania

Strūnos socialinės globos namai is a long‑term social care home in Strūna village, Švenčionys district, providing full‑time support for people who cannot live independently due to age, disability, or health conditions.

Discuss with head of Strūna social care center

Together with the director of Strūna Social Care Home, Petras Velička, and the institution’s long‑serving staff, we discussed the daily realities of life in care homes. People disadvantaged by fate, living with mental or physical disabilities, were still during the Soviet era “exiled” to the remote edges of Lithuania

Many of us can hardly imagine what life in such institutions looks like. Some of the stories you hear there could easily make front‑page news or become the subject of television programs. // The Lithuanian Council for Culture is funding the event series Ballet for Seniors, through which we introduce people living with mental illnesses to the world of ballet

Many of us
can hardly imagine what life in such institutions
looks like

These encounters remind us how powerful art can be in restoring dignity, connection, and emotional expression. Even a short performance can open a window into beauty for those whose everyday lives are often marked by routine and isolation. Initiatives like this help bridge the gap between cultural life and communities that rarely have access to it

Thank you for your attention!